Gas-separator for storage batteries.



PATENTED MAR. 21, 1905.

l T. A. EDISON.

GAS SETARATOR EGR STORAGE BATTERIES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1904.

, fill/lll IVI/l .the electrolyte from the escaping gases.

,NTTED STATES Patented March 21, 1905.

PATENT Trice.4

THOMAS A. EDISON, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO EDISON STORAGE BATTERY COMPANY, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A OOR- PORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GAS-SEPARATOR FiOR STORAGE BATTERIES- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,.297, dated March 21, 1905.

Application filed August 16, 1904-.. Serial No. 220,911.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,THoMAs A. EDISON, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Llewellyn Park, Orange, Essex county, New Jersey, have In my improved storage battery I make useA of a gas-separator, the function of which is to separate mechanically-entrained globules vof constructing this separator I make use of a small puppet-valve normally closing a vent from the can or vessel in which the active,-

materials are supported and arranged to be automatically opened when asufficient gaspressure accumulates to thereby allow gas to escape against a liquid iilm at a suiciently high velocity to overcome the surface tension thereof, whereby the entrained globules willk coalesce with the film to be separated from the gases. Such a method is described and claimed in my patent, of the United States granted July 5, 1904:, No. 764,183.

I find in practice that sometimes when exfcessive foaming of the electrolyte takes place the amount ofliquid which'passes upward past the valve is so great as to cause an accumulation of liquid above the valve-seat, gradually filling the space between the valve-seat and the gauze and sometimes actually overflowing the latter. This gradual accumulation of liq- `uid is due to the fact that the valve by its type described wherein the valve will be lightn enough to float on the solution, so that so long as there may be any considerable accumulation of liquid above the valve-seat the valve will remain open and the liquid be allowed to iow back into the cell.

The invention also relates to the employment of a valve for the purpose constructed of glass, with a hollow head, so as to fioat on the solution, and preferably to a valve with a spherical head, so as to form a tight joint at the valve-seat. 4

In order that the invention may be better understood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawing, forminga part of this specification, and in whichI illustrate a sectional View of a part of the storage-battery can or receptacle with my improved gas-separator applied thereto.

In the drawing', l represents the can, which is ordinarily made of sheetsteel carefully nickel-plated, and 2 a nipple held in place in an opening therein by turning over the edges of the metal around said opening to form a so proportioned as to floaton the solution4 used, but preferably with but little reserve' buoyancy, so that the Vvalve does not commence to iioat until there is a considerable accumulation of liquidabove the valve-seat. By making the valve with a hollow spherical head, as shown, the valve as a whole may be made heavy enough to give the necessary pressure on the Valve-seat to permit the desired separating operation to take place, as I describe in my said patent.

,Having now described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,`is as follows 1. In a gas-separator for storage batteries, the combination with a can or receptacle, of a seat surrounding a 'vent therefrom, and a ioatable valve normally engaging' said sea\t,\

substantially as set forth.

2. In a gas-separator for storage batteries, the Combination with a can or receptacle, of a seat surrounding a vent therefrom, and a hollow floatable valve normally engaging said seat, Substantially as set forth.

3. In a gas-separator for storage batteries, the Combination with a can or receptacle, of a seat surrounding a vent therefrom, of a hollow spherical glass valve normally engaging said seat, substantially as set forth.

4. In a gas-separator for storage batteries, the combination with a can or receptacle, of a seat surrounding a vent therefrom, and a floatable valve having a spherical head normally engaging said seat, substantially as set forth.

5. In a gas-separator for storage batteries,

Witnesses:

FRANK L. DYER, MINA C. MACARTHUR. 

